Apparatus for framing a glass panel of a table

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a table including a panel, a buffer and a metal frame. The panel is used for bearing articles. The buffer is put beneath the panel. The buffer is elastic in order to absorb impacts from the panel. The metal frame is put around the panel and the buffer in order to secure the buffer to the panel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a table and, more particularly, to anapparatus for framing a glass panel of a table.

2. Related Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a table including a glass panel 1and a metal frame 2 around the glass panel 1 for protective andaesthetic purposes. However, without any buffer between the glass panel1 and the metal frame 2, they tend to cause damages to each other whenthe glass panel 1 takes a heavy load. In addition, since the glass panel1 is made with a limited thickness and the metal frame 2 is made with alimited width accordingly, the glass panel 1 looks thin and fragile, notthick and solid.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a table including a panel, a bufferand a metal frame. The panel is used for bearing articles. The buffer isput beneath the panel. The buffer is elastic in order to absorb impactsfrom the panel. The metal frame is put around the panel and the bufferin order to secure the buffer to the panel.

An advantage of the table according to the present invention is that thepanel looks thick and solid. The buffer is put beneath the panel, andthe metal frame is put around the panel and the buffer, the width of themetal frame is large. Hence, it provides an illusion that the panel isas thick as the frame.

Another advantage of the table according to the present invention isthat it is strong and lasts long. The buffer is put between the lowersurface of the panel and the lower edge of the metal frame. In otherwords, the contact of the panel with the lower edge of the metal frameis elastic and indirect. When the panel bears an abrupt heavy load, thebuffer absorbs an impact. Thus, the panel and the metal frame do notcause any damage to each other. The panel not only can take an abruptheavy load but also can last for a long time.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration ofembodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table consisting of a glass panel anda conventional metal frame around the glass panel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a table including a glass table and anapparatus for framing the glass panel according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the table shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the table shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but shows an apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a table including a glass panel and anapparatus for framing the glass panel according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a table according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another table according to the presentinvention.

FIGS. 10 is a perspective view of still another table according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention, a table includes a panel 10 and an apparatus forframing the panel 10. The apparatus includes a buffer 20 and a metalframe 30.

The panel 10 is used to bear articles. The glass panel 10 may be made ofglass.

The buffer 20 is put beneath the glass panel 10 along the edge of theglass panel 10. To this end, the buffer 20 includes an annular formcorresponding to the edge of the glass panel 10. The buffer 20 is anelastic element in order to absorb an impact from the glass panel 10when the glass panel 10 is subject to a heavy load. The buffer 20 may bemade from an elastic polymer.

The metal frame 30 is put around the glass panel 10 and the buffer 20.Referring to FIG. 4, by means of a pressing machine, an upper edge 31 ofthe metal frame 30 is pressed against the glass panel 10, and a loweredge 32 of the metal frame 30 is pressed against the buffer 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, the upper edge 31 extends to the glass panel 10,and the lower edge 32 is parallel to the glass panel 10. Because thebuffer 20 is put beneath the glass panel 10, and the metal frame 30 isput around the glass panel 10 and the buffer 20, the width of the metalframe 30 is large. Hence, it provides an illusion that the glass panel10 is as thick as the frame 30, i.e., the glass panel 10 looks thick andsolid.

It should be noted that the buffer 20 is put between the lower surfaceof the glass panel 10 and the lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30. Thatis, the contact of the glass panel 10 with the lower edge 32 of themetal frame 30 is elastic and indirect. When the glass panel 10 bears anabrupt heavy load, the buffer 20 absorbs an impact. Hence, the glasspanel 10 and the metal frame 30 do not cause any damage to each other.The glass panel 10 not only can take an abrupt heavy load but also canlast for a long time.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a table according to a secondembodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like thefirst embodiment except several things. Firstly, the upper edge 31 isrolled. Secondly, the lower edge 32 is rolled. Thirdly, the thickness ofthe buffer 20 is reduced.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a table according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like thefirst embodiment except that a wall 33 is formed on the upper edge 31 inorder to restrain the articles on the glass panel 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a table including a circular glasspanel 10, a post 44 connected to the circular glass panel 10 and acircular base 41 for supporting the post 44.

Referring to FIG. 9, another table includes a square glass panel 10, apost 44 connected to the square glass panel 10 and a square base 42 forsupporting the post 44.

Referring to FIG. 10, another table includes two rectangular glasspanels 10, two rectangular frames 30 each around one of the rectangularglass panels 10 and four posts 43 connected to the rectangular frames30.

The apparatus for framing the glass panel 10 exhibits at least twoadvantages over the frame discussed in the Related Prior Art.

Firstly, the buffer 20 is put beneath the glass panel 10, and the metalframe 30 is put around the glass panel 10 and the buffer 20, the widthof the metal frame 30 is large. Hence, it provides an illusion that theglass panel 10 is as thick as the frame 30, i.e., the glass panel 10looks thick and solid.

Secondly, the buffer 20 is put between the lower surface of the glasspanel 10 and the lower edge 32 of the metal frame 30 for buffering. Inother words, the contact of the glass panel 10 with the lower edge 32 ofthe metal frame 30 is elastic and indirect. When the glass panel 10bears an abrupt heavy load, the buffer 20 absorbs an impact. Thus, theglass panel 10 and the metal frame 30 do not cause any damage to eachother. The glass panel 10 not only can take an abrupt heavy load butalso can last for a long time.

The present invention has been described through the detailedillustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derivevariations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scopeof the present invention defined in the claims.

1. A table comprising: a panel for bearing articles; a buffer putbeneath the panel, the buffer being elastic in order to absorb impactsfrom the panel; and a metal frame put around the panel and the buffer inorder to secure the buffer to the panel.
 2. The table according to claim1 wherein the panel is made of glass.
 3. The table according to claim 1wherein the buffer is put beneath the panel along the edge of the panel.4. The table according to claim 1 wherein the buffer is made an elasticpolymer.
 5. The table according to claim 1 wherein the buffer comprisesa shape corresponding to that of the panel.
 6. The table according toclaim 1 wherein the metal frame comprises an upper edge put against thepanel and a lower edge put against the buffer.
 7. The table according toclaim 6 wherein the upper edge of the metal frame extends towards thepanel.
 8. The table according to claim 6 wherein the lower edge of themetal frame is parallel to the buffer.
 9. The table according to claim 6wherein the upper edge of the metal frame is rolled.
 10. The tableaccording to claim 6 wherein the lower edge is of the metal frame isrolled.
 11. The table according to claim 6 wherein the metal framecomprises a wall extending beyond the upper edge for retaining thearticles on the panel.
 12. The table according to claim 1 comprising apost connected to the panel.
 13. The table according to claim 1comprising four posts connected to the metal frame.